Domain Growth in Thermotropic Liquid Crystalline Polymers by Small Angle Light Scattering

Abstract
The small angle light scattering from nematic liquid crystalline polymers was studied. The observed patterns are qualitatively interpreted in terms of the concentration of disclinations. Both a stiff chain and a semiflexible liquid crystalline polyester were investigated, and their light scattering patterns recorded at varying annealing times in the mesophase. A “domain growth” process is found to take place in a much shorter time scale for the rigid rod polymer, this being attributed to the relative instability of the disclinations.

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